He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus

Do not get discouraged nor lose your motivation
In these troubled times, God is urging His followers to not become discouraged. With all that is happening in these end times (COVID 19 pandemic, sickness, riots and violence, the increase of evil, financial woes, job loss, mental health, difficult relationships), we have to make a concerted effort to keep our eyes on Jesus.

What keeps us strong — is the fact that we believe, and our believing is placed in “Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter” (or Finisher) of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Though our faith be as small as a tiny, tiny mustard seed, we say, with that little faith “[your lack of trust and confidence in the power of God]“:

Lord, I believe!
[Constantly] help my weakness of faith!
– Verse 24 of Mark 9:23-25

When the enemies of our soul say “yes”, the Lord says “no”, and, we believe Jesus.  We put no confidence in our flesh, nor in the ways of the world, nor in the Tempter.  When our soul is attacked by malicious gossipers, and/or by Satan, “the accuser of the saints” (Revelation 12:10, 2 Timothy 3:3), we say, “I’m not what he/she says I am“.  ¹

I am what Jesus says I am.

• I am enough!
• I am more than a Conqueror – in Christ.

I believe Jesus –

• not the malicious gossipers
• not the world,
• not my flesh,
• not the Deceiver.

However weak or strong our belief – we take God at His Word. I agree with God and say,  “Yes I can – I can stand strong.”  What He says, is the truth.  We need not fear death:

¹⁴ knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence.  – Verse 14 of 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

“Just consider and meditate on Him”
Jesus suffered much, much more than any of us. “Consider it all in comparison with your trials…” (Hebrews 12:2-3).  Whatever it is that is making us struggle, we know that God really is in control, and, if we die — He will raise us back to new life.

See: I fear no evil

Evil may abound all around. But He renews our strength “day by day”.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.

¹⁷ For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!

¹⁸ So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.   – 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Through it all, God is our Lord and Savior. In all His sufferings, He it is…

² …who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

³ Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  – Hebrews 12:2-3

We keep a good conscience
We maintain a clear conscience “in the sight of God” (1 Timothy 1:19).  According to Paul – this is done “by stating the truth [openly and plainly]“. Instead of “walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God” – we renounce sinful things and confess the truth of our struggles.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation. ² But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.  – Verses 1-2 of 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

We know that, through Jesus we already “received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings]“.  That is in “past tense”: received.  Done.

And so – we don’t allow our own thinking to bad mouth our self with undisciplined self talk.  We speak truth and talk directly to God through Jesus “our Mediator between God and man”.  Jesus knows our thoughts.  We discipline our “self-talk” to be truthful talk.  We speak truth – truth as God sees things.

Bad thinking is all around, these days.  We must make judgements all day long (discerning our way).  Who are you listening to?

…”³ But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ.”  – 2 Corinthians 11:3-5

Faith in Christ is not complicated.  Quite simple, actually.  The way to stay strong is to keep it simple — “the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ.” Don’t listen to naysayers who try to corrupt how you think and then lead your thinking away from simple “pure devotion to Christ”.

If and when we die, we know by faith that the Lord Jesus is going to raise us up to new life. So what is there to fear?

FOR MORE:

If we keep our eyes on Jesus, we have nothing to fear because He goes before us. I fear no evil because He is with me.
_____________

2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation. ² But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing; ⁴ among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. ⁸ We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; ⁹ hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death]. ¹² So physical death is [actively] at work in us, but [spiritual] life [is actively at work] in you.

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Calling out false teachers

…”³ But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ.”  – 2 Corinthians 11:3-5

The enemies of our soul

Who you are in Christ

I’m not what he says I am

We are pressured in every way, but not crushed

I fear no evil

He will go before me

The Overcoming Faith of Christ Followers

How prayer works

Jesus Knows Your Thoughts

Self-talk prayer

1.  Accusers. 2 Timothy 3:3, Revelation 12:9,10

   *Satan: “…the age-old serpent who is called ^[d] the devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world;

   BibleGateway Footnote:
   d.  Revelation 12:9 The Greek for devil is diabolos, which is actually a translation of Satan, a Hebrew word meaning “adversary” or “accuser.” The Greek word additionally carries with it the concept of “slanderer.” See note v 10.

   *The Accuser: “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for ^[e] the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night.  – Revelation 12:10

   BibleGateway Footnote:
   e.  Revelation 12:10 This is the activity of Satan from which he has earned his name (see note v 9). The activity is most clearly seen in Job 1-2 and in Zechariah 3.
   

   *Malicious gossips: “³ [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good….  – 2 Timothy 3:3

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